When the days seem to be getting longer and warmer, we bet you and your friends likely play outdoors more. Riding bikes, playing tag, kicking the ball around are all fun ways to pass the time after school lets out. And who doesn't like a rousing game of tug of war? All that playing outside sure does make you sweat and it makes you pick up a lot of dirt along the way!

Once you head inside to start getting ready for bed, there's one place you probably need to make a beeline for: the bathroom! As the hot water fills the tub and you start to suds up, you might WONDER, exactly how does soap make you clean?

This unique structure gives soap its cleaning power. When your hands are dirty, it's usually because oils have attracted dirt molecules, causing them to stick to your hands.

When you wash your hands with soap, the hydrophobic ends of the soap molecules attract the oily dirt, forming a drop of oil surrounded by soap molecules with their hydrophilic ends sticking outward. When you rinse your hands, the hydrophilic ends of the soap molecules allow the suspended drops of oil to be washed away!

So the next time you wash your hands, try to picture all the soap molecules grabbing the oily dirt particles and pulling them off your hands to be washed down the drain when you rinse. You'll also be able to explain to friends and family members what's happening when dishwashing soap cleans those greasy plates!

Did you get it?

Wonder What's Next?

We hope tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day will quench your thirst for knowledge!

Try It Out

Are you ready to learn more about the cleaning powers of soap? Be sure to explore the following activities with a friend or family member:

Know the best way to test out the cleaning powers of soap? Use it! First, you'll need to get your hands a bit dirty. You could always go out and pick up some dirt, but we suggest you do something a bit more helpful. Ask a friend or family member if there's an outdoor chore you can help with. Perhaps you could pull weeds or help to put a plant into a bigger pot. Whatever you do, don't worry about getting your hands dirty. That's a good thing today! When you're done with your chore and have hands that are in need of a good cleaning, head to the sink and grab a bar of soap. Turn on the water and lather up. Pay close attention to the soap you're using. What does it feel like? Does it smell good? Does it make a lot of bubbles? How quickly does it get your hands clean? Have fun putting what you learned today to good, hands-on use!

Take a field trip with an adult to a local grocery store. Find the aisle with the bars of soap and spend some time learning about the wide variety of soaps available today. How do the different soap manufacturers try to differentiate their products? Are all of the soaps available in bar form? What's the most unique soap you can find? What's special about it? If you can, purchase a few different types of soaps to try at home. Perhaps you'll find a new favorite!

Feeling a bit crafty? Make your own Handmade Soaps at home with just a few simple supplies and the help of an adult. Be sure to read through the directions thoroughly and then head to the store to get any supplies you might need. Be as creative as you can be. Display your homemade soaps at home for others to see and use. Friends and family members may want you to make some homemade soap for them. You never know when your homemade soap-making skills might turn into a lucrative side business!